Nestled deep within the mountain, the U-shaped Cave of Crystals spans 30 meters by 10 meters and is adorned with enormous, cloud-white selenite gypsum crystals. The most massive crystal found in the cave weighs an astounding 12 tons, spans 1 meter in width, and stands 11.4 meters tall – six times the height of an average human.
Despite its captivating allure, the Cave of Crystals remains closed to the public due to its treacherous and potentially fatal conditions. The cave maintains a constant temperature of 58°C and humidity levels ranging from 90 to 99 percent, making it hazardous for anyone to spend more than 10 minutes inside without protection. Prolonged exposure could result in a fatal buildup of fluid in the lungs.
To safely explore the cave, crystal-hunting teams must don protective suits complete with respirators supplying fresh air. This gear extends their exploration time to approximately 15-60 minutes. However, even with adequate protection, navigating the slippery, condensation-covered crystal surfaces remains a challenge. The fragile gypsum crystals, with some weighing over 50 tons, have a Mohs scale strength score of just 2, making them prone to breakage and movement underfoot.
Originating around 26 million years ago, the mountain houses numerous caverns filled with colossal chalk crystal caves. The caves formed as magma pushed against the Earth's surface, creating warm water-rich caverns filled with calcium sulfate, which facilitated crystal growth. The predominant mineral in the cave system is a transparent variety of gypsum called selenite. As the water temperature dropped below the high stability zone of anhydrite, the mineral dissolved, and gypsum crystals began to form once the cave water reached approximately 58°C.
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